Role of echocardiography for silent cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Silent cerebrovascular disease, such as silent brain infarctions and white matter hyperintensities detected on magnetic resonance imaging is frequently observed in the elderly and carries an increased risk of future stroke and dementia. Echocardiography is a widely available and relatively inexpensive imaging modality for the detection of cardioembolic sources. In addition, the associations of abnormal echocardiographic findings with cognitive impairment have been recently shown. Therefore, to understand the association between cardiac abnormalities assessed by echocardiography and silent cerebrovascular disease may provide a cost-effective opportunity to detect abnormalities that may affect the risk of future adverse events, with potential preventative implications. In the present mini review, we highlight the role of echocardiography in silent cerebrovascular disease. *Correspondence to: Shunichi Homma, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Medical Center, PH 3-342, 622 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA, Tel: +121-230-530-68; Fax: +1-212 3059049; E-mail: sh23@cumc. columbia.edu